Monsanto...meet my friend Karma...

[Wifezilla]

"In a huge ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet has said that gene patents are invalid. As you may recall, last May, the ACLU was the first to finally challenge whether or not genes could be patented. There was a lot of back and forth over the case, with many saying that a ruling against gene patents would throw a wrench into the business plans of many companies, because so many biotech/medical companies have been relying on the idea that gene patents must be valid for so long. But just because many companies relied on a mistaken understanding of patent law, doesn't mean that it should be allowed to continue. The judge made the point clear when it came to gene patents, saying that they:
"are directed to a law of nature and were therefore improperly granted.""
http://techdirt.com/articles/20100329/1506458769.shtml

 

[freemotion]

Finally! What we all knew by common sense finally trickled up to the law! (Where common sense is not very common....)

 

[Wifezilla]

Don't pop the champagne cork yet. There will be appeals...you can bet on that.

 

[redux]

Finally some sanity can come to farming.

 

[Occamstazer]

Yes! Appeals or not, this sets good precedent!

 

[big brown horse]

 

[Lady Henevere]

Interesting. Here's more:

Judge Sweet found that removing the gene from its natural environment, the body, is not sufficiently different to what is found in nature, therefore such processes are a "discovery" and not an "invention", making any patent invalid.

On the diagnostic side, the judgment also says the use of the gene material in the test does not make the test patentable.

There is no transformation that happens to the biological materials themselves that means the company can claim an "invention" and therefore be awarded a patent over the genes.

from http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/30/2859925.htm?section=world

Also, I found this yesterday and thought you all might like to take a look: Millions Against Monsanto. http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

 

[kcsunshine]

Current issue of Mother Earth has interesting article on Mansanto's testing of Roundup Ready products. Discrepancies found.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Finally a step in the right direction

 

[lupinfarm]

I'm sure this will make all those farmers who were unfairly sued because Monsanto plants pollenated their plants very happy.